1. the act or process of drilling a hole in advance, typically before inserting a screw or fastener to prevent splitting or misalignment
Usage: common in carpentry and construction

1. to drill a hole in advance before inserting a screw, bolt, or other fastener
Usage: present participle of predrill

Examples

• Predrilling the holes prevents the wood from splitting when you drive in the screws.
• The carpenter recommended predrilling before fastening the hinges to the door frame.
• Predrilling is especially important when working with hardwoods.
• She was predrilling the metal sheet to ensure accurate bolt placement.
• Proper predrilling technique requires using a bit slightly smaller than the fastener diameter.